Sale's Birdie Blitz Gives Him One-Shot Grand Final Lead

Julien Sale produced a back-nine birdie blitz to take a one-shot lead into the weekend at the Rolex Grand Final in Mallorca on Friday. The Frenchman mixed ten birdies with three dropped shots in a seven-under-par 65 at Club de Golf Alcanada, reaching 13 under par at the halfway stage of the HotelPlanner Tour's season finale. Sale, who had been under par but unspectacular on the front nine, caught fire after the turn, with a hat-trick of birdies from the 11th setting the tone before back-to-back gains on the 15th and 16th and a tenth birdie at the last. Dutchman Lars van der Vight matched his 65 to sit alone in second at 12 under, while overnight leader Joseba Torres is one further back at 11 under. The Grand Final is the 28th and final event on the Road to Mallorca schedule, with a 45-man field competing for 15 DP World Tour cards, and Sale is already assured of promotion after a fine campaign featuring a breakthrough victory and five further top-ten finishes. He is now projected to top the season-long rankings and become the first Frenchman to do so since Mike Lorenzo-Vera 19 years ago.